"Telescope?"
Qin Lu had already been intrigued when Gu Yanshu mentioned this was a gift for him. Now, hearing its name, his curiosity only deepened.
Given the earlier demonstration of the magnifying glass, the function of the telescope seemed self-explanatory from its name alone.
Yet Qin Lu couldn't fathom how a small bamboo tube could achieve such a feat.
Turning it over in his hands, he realized it wasn't just a simple tube—embedded within were glass lenses similar to those in the magnifying glass.
Gu Yanshu smiled, leading Qin Lu to the window. He pushed it open and gestured outside.
"Your Highness, look at that pine tree in the courtyard."
Qin Lu lifted his gaze.
In the distance, beyond the small courtyard, stood a lone pine tree.
Pines were hardy—even in the depths of winter, their needles remained lush and green.
After the recent snowfall, the tree was dusted with silver, its beauty accentuated.
But pine trees were hardly rare in Prince Li's estate. Why would Gu Yanshu specifically draw his attention to this one?
Just as Qin Lu was about to question the purpose, Gu Yanshu spoke first:
"Can Your Highness clearly see the pine needles from here?"
Qin Lu studied the tree again before answering honestly.
"Not distinctly."
Pine needles were naturally slender, and the accumulated snow further obscured their details.
Even with Qin Lu's exceptional eyesight—honed to the point of hitting a willow leaf at a hundred paces—the needles' finer features remained blurred.
Gu Yanshu's smile widened.
He took the telescope back, adjusted it briefly, then handed it to Qin Lu.
"Now, try looking through the telescope."
Though unfamiliar with the device, Qin Lu mimicked Gu Yanshu's earlier motions, lifting it to his eye and focusing on the distant pine.
Instantly, his breath caught.
Not only could he see the pine needles with startling clarity—he could even discern the texture of the snow clinging to them.
It was as though the tree had been brought within arm's reach.
If the magnifying glass and spectacles had been mere novelties to Qin Lu, the telescope's potential was immeasurable.
As a military commander, his mind raced to its battlefield applications.
In warfare, intelligence on enemy movements was often the difference between victory and defeat.
Countless scouts had lost their lives gathering such information.
But if this telescope could extend visibility beyond the courtyard—even just to the estate's main gates—it would dramatically increase scouts' survival rates.
His pulse quickening, Qin Lu barely contained his excitement.
"What's the maximum range of this telescope?"
"Hmm... It varies by the user's eyesight. This model magnifies objects a hundredfold. As for distance..."
Gu Yanshu paused to calculate.
Assuming an adult's stride spanned 1.5 meters, a hundred paces would be 150 meters.
With 100x magnification, that translated to 15,000 meters—or roughly 30 li.
"For Your Highness—with vision sharp enough to hit a target at a hundred paces—this telescope would make a target 30 li away appear as if it were merely a hundred paces distant."
"An average person might only see clearly up to 10 or 15 li, but given Your Highness's exceptional sight..."
Qin Lu froze.
Thirty li?
Even the lower estimate of 10 to 15 li far exceeded his wildest expectations.
The issue was—
Qin Lu's initial expectation had merely been the distance from this small courtyard to the main gates of Prince Li's estate—less than half a li!
Had it not been for his familiarity with Gu Yanshu's character, Qin Lu might have dismissed such claims as outright exaggeration.
Even so, skepticism lingered:
"Is the Princess Consort certain of this?"
"Absolutely."
Gu Yanshu smiled, unbothered by Qin Lu's doubt.
In fact, he found Qin Lu's conflicted expression—torn between belief and disbelief—rather endearing.
"Though the telescope's usage is quite demanding. It only works effectively in unobstructed areas. If Your Highness remains unconvinced, why not test it outside the city?"
The outskirts of the capital boasted numerous high mountains.
From their slopes, one could survey the entire city—an ideal testing ground for the telescope.
Qin Lu's mind was already racing with the implications of "10 li," "15 li," and "30 li."
The moment the suggestion left Gu Yanshu's lips, Qin Lu was on his feet, ordering Zhige to prepare his horse for an immediate departure.
Watching Qin Lu stride toward the door without a second thought, Gu Yanshu couldn't help but laugh.
He intercepted him swiftly:
"Is Your Highness planning to leave me behind?"
Qin Lu didn't hesitate:
"It's bitterly cold outside, and the journey would be taxing—"
Gu Yanshu cut him off:
"If Your Highness doesn't take me, do you even know how to operate the telescope?"
Qin Lu's retort died in his throat.
He suddenly recalled—before handing him the device, Gu Yanshu had adjusted it meticulously.
Seeing Qin Lu's hesitation, Gu Yanshu pressed his advantage:
"I'll bundle up properly. I've been cooped up in the estate for days—this'll be a chance to stretch my legs."
"But it's nearly dusk. If we take the carriage, we won't make it back before the city gates close."
It was almost Youshi (5-7 PM).
Winter slowed travel; the trip from Prince Li's estate to the city gates alone would take nearly an hour, let alone the additional time needed beyond the walls.
Moreover, Tianqi's winter gate curfew was early—Xushi (7-9 PM).
They had barely one hour to complete a round trip. An impossible feat.
While Qin Lu's status could compel the guards to reopen the gates, his military discipline made him reluctant to exploit such privileges.
"Then we'll ride horses," Gu Yanshu countered without missing a beat.
"But—"
Before Qin Lu could protest further, Gu Yanshu had already thrown on his heavy cloak and was draping Qin Lu's over his shoulders:
"No 'buts.' It's not as if I've never ridden with Your Highness before."
On their wedding day—when they were still strangers—Gu Yanshu had arrived at the estate on Qin Lu's horse.
Now, with their relationship far more intimate, sharing a mount was hardly an issue.
Qin Lu found himself speechless.
Helpless, he acquiesced, allowing Gu Yanshu to accompany him.
Though bewildered by the sudden order to saddle the horses, Zhige obeyed without question.
Moments later, he watched as his master mounted with the Princess Consort and galloped toward the city gates.
Even after growing accustomed to their closeness, Zhige was left scratching his head at this abrupt departure:
Had His Highness and the Princess Consort devised yet another way to torment the world?
Shaking off the thought, he swiftly mounted his own steed and gave chase.
Time was of the essence.
Once beyond the walls, Qin Lu made straight for the nearest mountain, reaching its midpoint in record time.
Dismounting, he turned to Gu Yanshu:
"Will this suffice?"
"Perfectly."
Though not the summit, this vantage point offered an unobstructed panorama of the capital.
Sensing Qin Lu's impatience, Gu Yanshu didn't wait for prompting.
He retrieved the telescope, calibrated it swiftly, and handed it over:
"Your Highness may proceed."
Despite the cooling-off period during their ride, despite his mental preparations—
The moment Qin Lu peered through the lens, the world reshaped itself before his eyes.
Unlike viewing the courtyard pine tree from the estate's window—
Here, surveying the capital from the mountainside, the telescope's military applications became inescapably clear.
At this distance—at least five li—without magnification, Qin Lu could barely discern the city's general layout.
Yet now—
He could see with startling clarity:
Two guards conversing atop the distant gatehouse.A street vendor hawking his wares just inside the walls.Servants sweeping courtyards in homes with low perimeter walls.
Even without further exploration, Qin Lu knew—
This telescope did, as Gu Yanshu had promised, extend visibility to ten li and beyond.
If so, wouldn't Tianqi's soldiers be able to clearly discern enemy troop movements and formations from ten li away?
At this thought, even Qin Lu—a man who had weathered countless storms and remained unshaken even if Mount Tai crumbled before him—felt his pulse quicken imperceptibly.